Valery Zaluzhnyi Says Ukraine Will Never Join NATO

Ambassador to Britain and former top military commander Valery Zaluzhnyi stated on Monday that there is no prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. Speaking at a meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors, Zaluzhnyi asserted that Ukraine will never actually join the alliance because it does not meet necessary military standards and lacks essential technology, specifically citing deficiencies in anti-missile defense and space capabilities.

Zaluzhnyi characterized NATO as being guided by World War II doctrines. His assessment contradicts the strategic goals enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution, which lists membership in both NATO and the European Union as primary objectives. Despite these constitutional goals, the Ukrainian government has acknowledged that some member states would not currently welcome the country's entry.

Russia has also rejected the possibility of Ukrainian membership in the alliance. Zaluzhnyi's comments follow his dismissal as Ukraine's top commander last year by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a move resulting from differences over the conduct of the war.